Saturday, September 26, 2009

The move








Renovation..装饰

Today I moved my office to the new premises.

My brother Dickson and lorry driver Samy took charge of the operation. They have been with my company for more than 20 & 18 years respectively.

Very soon they would be retired as I am winding down my trading business too. My greatest appreciation and gratitude for their services.

Whatever it will be, let us enjoy the new office for the time being.









Moving 搬迁

今天我搬迁了办公室。

我的弟弟 Dickson 和 罗利驾驶员 Samy, 负责及安排搬迁事宜。他们两人在我公司,分别已经有超过二十 及十八年了。

随着我的贸易公司缩小营业,他们也将在不久后退休了。我非常感激及珍惜他们的服务。

无论如何,让我们享受新办公室的气息吧!









Messy 凌乱



Samy, the misai
三美,大胡子

Friday, September 25, 2009

Our Malay neighbour 我们的马来邻居

This evening, our immediate Malay neighbour, Alwi and Jalina, invited us over for a simple Hari Raya meal.

Alwi is a fire station chief, simple and humble man. Jalina is working for an oil exploration company in KL. They have two children (left).

We have a cosy chat after meal. We talked about bring up children, teenage problems, our dogs, fruit trees....their mango tree bored fruits after 13 years...they are so excited to share the fruits with neighbour and friends..... AND former Prime Minister Mahathir's open house tomorrow...

今天傍晚,我们的隔壁马来邻居邀请我们过去共享一个简单的开斋节晚餐。

Alwi 是救火局局长,为人随和谦虚。他的太太Jalina 是在一家探油公司工作。他们有两位孩子(左)。

用餐后,我们坐下侃侃而谈。。。谈到教养孩子,特别是少年时期的困难,谈到我家的狗,谈到果树。。。他家的芒果树在十三年后才结出果实,他们很高兴的把它分派给邻居及朋友,我们也谈到明天前首相马哈迪开斋节开放住家。。。。。

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The burden 包袱

Carrying Elizabeth's backpack at the airport
俯首甘为孺子牛,背着女儿的背包

The modern couples do not want many children, two is more than enough. The main reason is the heavy cost of bringing up children especially on education.

I have already reached the age of "knowing my fate", but still carry the burden of children's education - Elizabeth, my youngest daughter's education. The burden would be relieved upon her graduation only.

After two months of home holidays, she went back to Scotland last night by MAS flight via Amsterdam.

Due to carelessness, just before leaving for airport, we discovered her luggage was 28 Kg, way above the 20 Kg allowance. In an international route, overweight is very costly.

To be sure, we took out some items at the airport and weighed at the counter - it was 27 kg! The counter lady staff was very nice and friendly, she enquired what was inside the bag that weighted so heavy. My wife told her mostly necessity items for Elizabeth such as health care and stationary items. She asked the staff to allow the extra weight.

She took awhile to consider and replied:" Not 27 kg, but allowed you 25 kg only".

We were surprised by her kindness. But on the other hand, worried about the connecting flight from Amsterdam to Aberdeen (Scotland). The other airline may not allow 25 kg and the extra charges could be much higher than in Malaysia.

We voluntarily reduced to 23.2 kgs. It passed safely.

Another kind soul, another overweight problem solved, another occasion to thank our Blessed Mother. In fact, the moment I reached airport, I started praying:"Hail Mary, full of Grace, help Elizabeth's luggage overweight....Hail Mary, full of Grace, help Elizabeth's luggage overweight..."

Mother Mary got for us 25 kg, but we were too afraid to take it all..... thanks anyway Mother!

Elizabeth and her course mate, Jocelyn. 女儿和同学

现代的年轻夫妇,不会生的太多孩子,两个已经喊够了。其主要原因是抚养孩子的费用非常的高,特别是在教育方面。

给孩子最好的教育,是父母的责任,负担及使命。

我虽已进入知天命之年,但仍然要背负最后一个孩子 - 小女儿的教育。这包袱只有在她毕业之后,才宣告“释担”。

经过两个月的假期后,她在昨晚乘达马航回去苏格兰继续她的学业。

不知是她摆乌龙还是大意,在出门去机场的时候,才发现她的行李重28公斤,等于是超重8公斤。在国际航线里,每公斤的超重是相当昂贵的。

为了肯定,到了机场,在停车场拿了一些物件出来,然后到柜台秤秤,确是超重过多了- 27公斤!柜台的小姐非常友善,问问里面有什么东西这么多重。太太和她谈谈是女儿读书用品及一些保健品。再问问她可否通融,给予“过关”。

那位服务小姐思考了一会,“好吧,但决不能27 公斤,我给你25公斤吧!”

真是喜出望外。但我们心中又愣了一下,因为她还要到阿姆斯特丹转另一航空公司的班级,那里可能不肯接受25公斤,过重收费可比这里更高。

想了想,还是尽量的减吧!最后,自动的减到23.2公斤,轻易过关了!

这是又一次的遇到好人,又一次的过关,又一次的要感激圣母。。。。因为我一下车的时候,就开始念: “万福玛丽亚,你充满圣宠,求你相助,过重的包袱。。。” “万福玛丽亚,你充满圣宠,求你相助,过重的包袱。。。”

这次是圣母为我们拿到25公斤,但我们不敢全要,自动的减。。。。但还是要感谢圣母!

Cousin Aileen (2nd left), husband John (5th left) and children brought "yong tou fu" and roast duck for farewell dinner
表妹爱玲(左二)及丈夫若望(左五)及孩子,买了酿豆腐及烧鸭作为告别晚餐

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Hari Raya Puasa 开斋节

More than 20 types of cookies and goodies 超过二十种的糕饼


Today is the first day of Hari Raya Puasa.

After Mass, we went to Rosnah's house in Kuala Lumpur for Hari Raya open house. Although Rosnah works as an office cleaner but is very generous. She prepares many cookies, deliecious food for her office colleages and friends.

Visitors made up of Indian, Filipinos, Chinese, German, Australian.... This is truely a Malaysia in communion. There is no need to shout about apa itu... 1 Malaysia?























今天是开斋节的第一天。

弥撒过后,我们到吉隆坡罗斯娜的家向她祝贺。虽然她是一位清洁工人,但非常的慷慨。她准备了 许多糕饼 、美味食物来款待同事及朋友。

到来的访客,有印度人,华人,菲律宾人、德国人 、澳洲人 。。。的确可以称为一个共融的马来西亚。这根本不需要大喊那个什么。。。一个马来西亚的口号!

Little children 小孩子


Jesus said: "......Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

Illustrating the Gospel of St. Mark at the morning Mass today, Fr. George Harrison, our Asst. Parish Priest called upon little children to be with him during his sermon.

Thumbs up for his creativity!

耶稣说:“。。。谁若因我的名字,收留一个像这样的小孩子, 就是收留我; 谁收留我,并不是收留我,而是收留派遣我来到那一位。”

在今天主日弥撒证道时,为了解释圣玛谷福音的讯息,副本堂赫神父邀请了一群小孩,坐在他的身边作示范。

非常有创意,可嘉的证道法。

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Wedding season 结婚的季节

David (middle) and the bride and groom 老总和新郎及新娘

The "ghost" seventh lunar month is over, the "good luck" eighth lunar month and wedding season begins.

I am sure many of you have received wedding invitations. This weekend I have 2. So me and my wife split went our separate way. She went to the wedding invitation in Kajang while I went to the wedding dinner of David Chia's second son in Kuala Lumpur.

David Chia has a wide social and business network. His dinner guests included friends and business associates from China, Taiwan and USA.

Superior General of CDD Rev. Fr. Stephen Ng (pic right), David's old neighbour, veteran lawyer and former Secretary General of MCA Tan Sri Kam Woon Wah,old acquaintance Theresa Kok, the MP of Seputih and Senior Exco Selangor, were among the distinguish dinner guests.

“鬼”七月过去了,“发”的好八月开始了,这是结婚的好季节。

我肯定大家都受到很多婚宴的邀请,而这个周末我就有两份了。所以,我和太太就兵分两路,她留在加影参加一位好朋友的嫁女儿的婚姻,我则去吉隆坡参加老总谢家强的娶媳妇宴会。

谢家强活跃于商界,所以有很广的生意及社交网络。今晚宴会的客人有来自中国,台湾及美国的朋友和商业伙伴。

主徒会总会长黄进龙神父,老总的老邻居,资深律师及前马华总秘书甘文华,国会议员及雪州高级行政议员郭素沁,都是今晚的座上嘉宾。

Dr & Mrs Lim Thong Kiat, Theresa Kok (her blog SASSY MP)
林传杰医生夫妇及郭素沁

Friday, September 18, 2009

Ramadan market


Month of Ramadan (Muslim fasting month) is coming to an end in a day or two. The stalls at the Ramadan market are getting lesser because many stall operators have already left for kampong (home village) to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa expected to be on Sunday.

Nevertheless, I went to the Ramadan market near my office to get some Rendang and Murtabak.

While enjoying the food, I also admire and respect Muslims who fasted from Sun rise to Sun down.



回教斋戒月即将结束,斋戒月市集里的档位也越来越少了,因为很多档主已经会家乡等欢庆开斋节。

我傍晚到我办公室附近的市集买了Rendang 和 Murdabak. 在享受美味食物的同时,我也非常敬佩及敬仰那些从日出到日落守斋的回教徒。

Thursday, September 17, 2009

My last lecture


This is my last lecture. It is different lecture from Randy Pauch and I am healthy.

Sr. Theresa Chew said jokingly that I can have a good sleep tonight. Strangely not so. It is almost midnight and I am not sleepy. May be I am very relaxing, not in a hurry to sleep.


In June, I received a call from Sr. Theresa requesting me to take a session to talk on Pope John Paul's Exhortation on 【The Vocation and Mission of the lay faithful in the church and in the world】 for the coming Theologico & Pastoral Formation course for the laity at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute starting August.

Based on my desire to learn as well, I agreed.

I took out the book which was given to me by my former Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Henriot on 24-09-1989 ( 20 years ago!). It is a wonderful and rich documents detailing the roles and calling of the lay faithful (Christifideles laici).

Being the first time to talk on Pope's (church's) document, I was under pressure (with my new business venture and shifting office added in).

Thank God for his guidance, and prayer to Mother Mary's intercession, assignment completed this evening- for better or worse.

Thank you to Sr. Theresa for the opportunity. But I don't think there will be a second one.

So, this is my last lecture!




我的最后一次讲课!

周修女说,我今晚应该会睡到很好,但奇怪,现在将近午夜了,还没睡意(不然就没写部落格了)。可能是轻松了,不急着睡吧!

在六月的时候,接到周修女的来电,说教区将在牧民学院开办一个两年的神学及牧灵课程,由神师和平信徒负责主讲有关课题。她邀请我负责主讲已故教宗保禄二世写的【平信徒劝谕-论平信徒在教会与世界中的圣召及使命】。

本着自己也该学习的理念, 我一口就答应了。

我把这本已经拥有将近二十年的文献打开,看了看,头就大了。原来内容确实是太丰富了,更何况要在两个小时以内讲完,要从何说起呢?

左看 、右看、晚看 、早看。。。经过了好长的时候,又停顿了好长时间,终于把重点锁定,开始准备了。。。

这是我第一次主讲教会文献,心里确是有压力 (加上新生意及搬迁办公室)。感谢天主,终于完成了使命(好、坏不计)。感谢天主的助佑和仁慈及圣母的转祷。

谢谢修女的错爱,我应该不会再接第二单吧!

Attentively taking note 专心聆听及做笔记

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Dragon fruit flower 龙珠果开花


My neighbour planted a dragon fruit plant that flowers frequently but bears not fruit.

Tonight I "caught" the plant with a big flower... the first time I actually seen its full bloomed flower. You see, dragon fruit plant flowers at night only!

Very beautiful!

My neighbour adik (young girl) with the flower 邻家小妹妹和花合照


我的邻居中了一颗龙珠果树,常常开花,但从未结成果实。

今晚,我 “抓”住了它开了一朵很大的花。。。其实这也是我第一次看到它盛开的花。龙珠果树是在晚上才开花的!

非常漂亮.

Dragon fruit flower (from the net) 网上寻到的照片

险过剃头










这就是所谓的 “险过剃头”。

早几天我在削水果,所用的小刀是锋利无比。因为自己大意,又要快,几乎把手指也削了一片(看看图片就知道)。幸亏只是如纸般薄薄的一曾皮!

说到那把锋利的小刀,这是我们花了很多时间,跨越国界才找到的的。

记得大约十年前,一位台湾的陈女士,应邀来吉隆坡为我们主持一个领袖培训。节目结束后,我就带了她观光及到郊外看看本地自然风景和品尝本地水果。

她随时带了一把小刀,就是用来削水果的。在离开前,她把小刀送了给我,我也不客气的手下,但当时只把它当成是她的一番好意,没有太注意是什么样的小刀。

过后,在家拿出来用一用,想看看到底是什么样的一把小刀。不得了,这把小刀可是锋利无比,削水果,切肉,切面包,胜任愉快。再看看,原来是瑞士出品的 Victorinox 品牌。

以后就在逛街或一些售卖这类用品的商店看看是否可以买到这个牌子的同样小刀,但好多年了,都还没有看到。

直到四年前,到澳洲参加儿子毕业典礼的时候,才在一家专卖店看到了这把小刀。太太买了好多把,除了自己用之外,还送给一些亲戚朋友。

这就是“险过剃头”的小刀故事。

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Faith and action 信德和行动

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus spoke to his disciples in Mark 8 :

......"But you," he asked "who do you say I am?" Pete spoke up and said to him, "you are the Christ". And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.


......" if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it."

The first part is "you know", "you believe", that is faith.

The second part is "you want", "you do", that is action.

The letter of St. James said: " Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead."

As a Christian, follower of Christ, not only one must know who He is, believe in him, but also important to have the desire and knowledge to do what He wants.

Action speaks louder, not only in our temporal affair but also in our faith!


今天的主日弥撒福音,耶稣在玛谷福音里向门徒说话:

。。。。“你们说我是谁?”。伯多禄说:“你是默西亚”。耶稣就严禁他们,不要向任何人谈及他。

。。。。“谁若愿意跟随我,就该弃绝自己,背着自己的十字架跟随我,因为谁若愿意救自己的性命,必要丧失性命,但谁若为我和福音的缘故,丧失自己的性命,必要救得性命。”

第一段的说话,是“你知道”,“你相信”。这是信德。

第二段的说话,是“你要”,“你做”。这是行动。

在第二读经里,圣雅各伯说:。。。“假设有弟兄或姐妹赤身露体,缺少日用食粮,即使你们中有人给他们说:你们平安去吧!穿得温暖的,吃得饱饱的!却不给他们身体所必需的,有什么益处?信德也是这样:若没有善行,自身便是死的”。

作为一位基督徒,耶稣跟随者,不只要知道他是谁,相信他,同样重要的,是必须要有知道及执行他要我们做什么。

口说无凭,行动证明一切。这句话不只在我们日常生活里引用,在信仰上,也是恰当。

Delicious pie 美味鸡肉派
















My nephew Andrew from Seremban dropped by for a visit. He baked 2 delicious chicken pie specially for us.

He enjoys baking.


我住在芙蓉的侄儿安德鲁,造访我们,并特地做了两个鸡肉派 (馅饼)给我们享用。

他喜欢烘制糕饼。

Saturday, September 12, 2009

转载自八月份【爱之光】月刊的文章。


艾丽丝的故事


诗巫的教友们,刚欢庆了他们敬爱的谭泽荣神父晋铎55周年及85岁大寿,我因为家里有事,太太也刚好出国旅游,遗憾的不能参与其盛,但心中的喜悦及对神父的祝福,丝毫不减。

谭神父是我在上期【爱之光】里提到的勇敢的传教士的其中一位。他来自中国广东,却到了当时相当落后的婆罗洲,一个福州、兴化人的地方服务,文化习俗,语言及食物的差异,实在是巨大。这就如欧洲人到亚洲来传教一样,需要毅力及坚持,加上勇敢的传福音精神,才能持续。五十五年后,『泽世福音真善牧,荣神司铎永蒙恩』是最恰当形容谭神父传教,奉献及司铎的55 年了。

虽然我不是诗巫教区教友,但却衷心的感谢天主赐了本地教会一位非常尽职、忠诚度善牧。我也衷心祈求天主继续降福谭神父,身壮如牛(谭神父肖牛),神恩充沛,在主的庄园,勇往直前。

谭神父也托诗巫一位军友艾丽丝,把他双庆的纪念品 – 精致环保袋,书签及念珠,送了给我。谢谢神父。

提到艾丽丝,我这期就和大家分享她的故事吧。

去年的圣诞节前几天,接到支团前任团长的电话,她说刚收到短讯,一位从东马来的圣母军,住在吉隆坡国际机场附近,想要来加影圣家堂参加弥撒。而她因为要回家乡过圣诞,没时间联络,就给了我对方的电话,叫我代办,看看能够帮个忙。

当时靠近圣诞,大家都忙,不过好歹也得联络对方,先了解情况再作打算。

电话联络上了,原来对方是位年轻姑娘,来自诗巫,刚进入政府部门服务,住在雪邦吉隆坡国际机场公务员宿舍。

她住的地方,离开我家约六十多公里,那里没有公共交通服务,叫她来加影,确实是件难事,而最靠近的市镇就是汝来,对她来说,也是一个陌生的名字。

看起来,这姑娘可是第一次离家,第一次出远门,第一次自己一个人生活,人生的第一份工作。对她来说,一切都是陌生,连她自己住的宿舍,是在那个方向,都搞不清楚。

这位姑娘就是来自诗巫新珠山的何艾瑜,圣名艾丽丝,芳龄只有二十而已!

我就对她说,给我完整的地址,在圣诞节过后,我会先去探望她,看看她的宿舍是在何方(当时我也不知该处是在那里),然后再看看能够做些什么吧!

圣诞后的一个周末,我独自一人,藉着卫星导航系统,终于找到了这个公务员宿舍。这是专为在机场工作的各政府部门公务员而建的宿舍,有好几十座,非常的庞大。

在约定的时间,我到了目的地。当时因为太太不得空,没有随行,所以为了避免任何的疑问及不便,我先把名字在电话中报上,吩咐这个姑娘先向她父母报告,然后向我的诗巫好友黄禄声查询,求证我的身份,然后也给了车牌,我们才见面了。

虽然不能喻为阿牛出城,但姑娘确是人生路不熟,东南西北方向还摸不着,需要别人帮助。身为人父母的我,当然是不忍袖手旁观,载了她到附近的汝来市镇走走,给她熟悉环境。

她第一次到我家过周末,我还得亲身去到她的宿舍接她,及送她回去。过后,教导她如何乘达巴士,电动火车来加影。当她能够自己安排交通,就方便的多了。

今天,这个姑娘已是我家的常客,我们随时欢迎她在假期或周末到来住宿,享受家的气氛,家的菜肴,家的安全。

艾丽丝在周末,假如没有加班或出外,都会来我家与我们共渡周末。因为我不方便去接载她,她自己安排交通,乘达巴士,从机场到汝来,再换电动火车,来到加影,全程需费时约三个小时。但能够有个家乡之外的家,也可以消除乡愁,又可以多结交朋友,该是她的推动力吧。

她入乡随俗,不挑剔,随遇而安,使得她很快的就把我的家当成是她的第二个家了。她知道那里拿杯,那里拿被,那里拿毛巾,那里拿碗碟。有时我们出外,还帮我们看门呢!

年轻人,抱著学习,认识的心态,不挑剔,不执着,随便,随和,加上知恩及感恩的心,就很容易和当地人交往了。这不仅是社交生活,对于年轻人的信仰生活也是非常重要的。

我相信有好多年轻人,如艾丽丝般的离乡背井,到外地工作或就读。他们没有机会接触到当地的教友,信仰就逐渐冷淡,不去教堂。因为接触的大部分都是外教朋友,久而久之,也“入乡随俗”,天主教徒的身份,就慢慢的淡化了。加上生活的忙碌,工作压力,渐渐的就离开教堂越来越远,最终给世俗吞噬了。

圣母军是个大家庭,很多团员都愿意接待或照顾这些 “艾丽丝”,只要他们愿意,周末到来小住,然后去教堂,参加弥撒或其他活动,是应该鼓励的事情吧。


艾丽丝在我家悠闲的阅读【爱之光】

The gift 物轻情意重


I received a box of moon cake and a pomelo from my god-daughter Irene in Johor Baru. The 300 kms delivery was made possible through her boy friend, Loong from Singapore, who was traveling back to his home town in Kerling, Perak.

It is so heart warming.

收到了新山乾女儿爱玲的一盒月饼及柚子。这个三百公里的递送,是由他在新加坡工作的男朋友飞龙,在回霹雳州科霖的家乡,冒雨 、塞车情况下完成的。

他们的心意,确实是令我们(我和太太)心头感觉到无限温暖。


I have added Google search (top right corner) . Just type a key word to search for old postings, events, people or item. E.g type "irene" or Chinese "爱玲", previous 2 postings on her would appear.

我在右上角加上了谷歌搜查。只要打上华文/英文关键字,就可以搜查到旧帖子,事件,人物等。例如打上 “爱玲” 或 " irene " ,就可以搜查到以前关于爱玲的帖子了。


Thursday, September 10, 2009

5 bushels of rice 为五斗米折腰


I bowed for five bushels of rice.

Yesterday, 090909, marked the official taking over of a manufacturing plant in a remote corner of Sg Buluh. I was representing my other two partners, witnessed by company secretary Mr. C.K Yap (middle), handing over the final purchasing payment cheques to Mdm Lim (left), the seller.

I had been busy preparing the taking over and the operation of the company for the past two months.

With the taking over, I surrendered my freedom in exchange for the five bushels of rice (in Chinese means bowed to situation in order to earn a living).

I will no longer be as free as a bird... not more flexible time to go round places.... less time for blogging.... less time for my Father (God's) business .... less time for my wife .... less time for my dogs .... less time for meeting friends.....

September is also the busiest month ever. I am moving my own office in Kajang to a new premises before the end of the month!



我为五斗米而折腰!

昨天,090909, 标志着正式接管了一间坐落于双溪普糯的制造厂。我代表了另两位股东,在公司秘书的见证下,把购价的最后款项支票,交到卖主林女士的手中。

在过去的两个月里,我已经在忙着准备接管及操作的事宜。

随着这个接管,我也付出了我的自由,而为五斗米折腰。

我将不再是如小鸟般的自由。。。不能很有伸缩性的到处溜。。。少时间写部落格。。。减少在主园地工作时间。。。减少陪太太的时间。。。少时间和狗儿玩。。。更是没时间去找朋友了。。。

九月也是我从未有过这样忙的时期,在月底之前,我还要搬迁本身在加影的办事处,到另一个新地点!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

090909 长长久久


09-09-09 is an auspicious day. More so for Chinese. Nine means forever, long-lasting, stable, enduring, but more so, it is a good-luck day.

On this auspicious day, thousands of motorists traveling along Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) at the stretch from Puchong IOI Mall to Serdang direction, would remember 9999 times (long long time) that 09-09-09 is a day of water and 9999 - long ...long...long... long traffic jam.

A burst water pipe at Km 31 LDP caused a massive traffic jam(my estimate, at least 10 kms long). Many were caught as early as 0909 hr on 090909 day ......

What a day ...090909090909090909090909090909090 ! But it is a lucky day for me... because I was driving at the opposite direction!

And traffic jam in Klang Valley is forever ....9999999999 !


09-09-09 是个世纪罕见,非常显赫的日子。对华人来说,9代表永久,爱情则天长地久,稳固。但更重要的是,这一天会带来好运。

在这难得的一天,数千驾驶在白沙罗-蒲种大道,从蒲种 IOI 广场到沙登的这段路上的司机及乘客们,会很9很9的记得(虽不是天长地久),09-09-09 这一天,是水和长长久久的车龙!

在31公里的路中央,因地下水管的爆裂,冲成了一个大窟窿,过半的路面受封闭,造成了交通大阻塞。据我的估计,该有整十公里长!很多驾车人士在零九年九月九日九时九分九秒,就塞在车龙里了。

这是一个非常的一天 090990909090909090909!对我来说,这可是幸运的一天,因为我是在反方向行驶!

而巴生谷的赛车,是永永久久,9999999的事儿。

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Holy cow story

Holy cow! a minister is speaking of shit..... or shit speaking !

From "MalaysiaKini".

What a farce the cow-head incident is turning out to be. The handling of the case so far demonstrates clearly that all that talk about 1Malaysia is mostly cow pie.

Firstly, the police have been slow to act. They concluded their investigations last Tuesday and handed them over to the attorney-general. Now we have to wait further for the august AG to decide whether action will be taken. In this regard, one can't help but be reminded that nothing has yet come out of the VK Lingam case – long after the Royal Commission of Inquiry ruled that there were grounds for the AG to take action.

Secondly, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein goes out of his way to meet with the protestors, the very people who had committed what is apparently a seditious act by bringing a cow's head to their protest and spitting at it and kicking it. All because they didn't want a Hindu temple to be relocated in their area of residence in Shah Alam.

Would Hishammuddin have done the same if it had been Hindus protesting against the relocation of a mosque in their housing estate? Imagine what the reaction of the authorities would have been if that had been the case.

What's worse, after the meeting, he spouted the most diabolical doublespeak and politicospeak when he told reporters that the protestors could not be blamed as “they had no intention at all” to invoke racial sentiments or cause tension. He even said they felt victimised. He defended their illegal protest (they had no permit) by saying they kept the number of protestors to a small number.

Well, Minister, some people have been arrested for protesting in an even smaller number.

As expected, he blamed the Selangor government, saying it had made “a poor decision” in relocating the temple.And then he made a statement that he should from now on be forever held accountable for: “In this day and age, protests should be accepted in this world as people want their voices to be heard. If we don't give them room to voice their opinions, they have no choice but to protest.”

Well, that's straight from the home minister's mouth, folks. Public protests are A-OK. So keep your tear gas, water cannons and whatnot at home, cops.

To cap it all, Hishammuddin said this was not the first time an animal's head had been used in a protest. He revealed that there was a time when a pig's head, wrapped in an Umno flag, was thrown into Umno's headquarters.

This is most disconcerting, especially coming from a minister who is charged with ensuring peace and harmony in the country. What was he trying to imply? Yes, he was exonerating the cow-head protestors, but wasn't he also sneakily trying to blame another community by bringing up the pig's head? If so, isn't that mischievous? And, surely, he must be aware that two wrongs don't make a right. So why bring up the earlier wrong to justify the cow-head one?

The day after this infamous press conference, Hishammuddin does a virtual about-turn and announces that the cow-head protestors should now be hauled to court because what they did could not be tolerated. He says he never justified their action in the first place. Is he suffering from amnesia? Has boss Najib Razak ticked him off for the things he said the day before?

As usual, he puts the blame on others and says it was bloggers who had made it seem as if he was condoning the cow-head protest. What a genius we have for a minister! Did he learn this from the master, Dr Mahathir Mohamad?

To exacerbate the situation and make the ruling party look desperate, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) comes out and instructs Malaysiakini to remove two videos from its archives – one of the cow-head protest itself and the other of Hishammuddin's shameful press conference.

MCMC not doing Hisham a favour


There is no cause for that. News is news, and what has been recorded is now part of our history. It is insensible of the MCMC to ask that they be removed, as if to erase history like communist Russia did in the 1940s.

And why remove the Hishammuddin video? I can only fathom one reason for it – to save him from embarrassment. If that is so, the MCMC is not doing him a favour. He has to grow up and be a man. He has to admit his mistake for saying what is recorded in that video. This is his rite of passage. Let him go through it. If he can't be man enough, how can he be considered for future prime ministership? (That is, if Malaysians would allow it to happen.)

All this clearly shows that there are still 2Malaysias, and that in word and deed, our national leaders affirm that.

This can't be good for Prime Minister Najib who seems to be trying to win non-Malay hearts and minds with his 1Malaysia slogan (I say “slogan” because that's just what it is so far – full of words and little action). The cow-head incident would have set his efforts back substantially. The Bagan Pinang by-election is coming up and there are 20 percent of Indian voters for that state seat. How will they vote?

Judging by what has been happening the past few months, Barisan Nasional has not been giving a good account of itself. In fact, it has mostly been shooting itself in the foot. And this without the help of Pakatan Rakyat whatsoever.

Just look at the kind of candidate they fielded for the Permatang Pasir by-election. And the current work-in-progress of Najib saying one thing while his deputy says the opposite.

As Najib goes about promoting 1Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin has been playing to the Malay gallery. He called Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim a traitor to the Malay race; defended an article in the Malay press calling on the Malays to stop being cowards and rise up; and on the same day that the 1Malaysia logo was publicly unveiled, he asserted that Umno would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights.

Meanwhile, race-baiting goes on almost daily in the Malay mainstream media, concerted in its aim to threaten, frighten and divide. That these media organisations are owned and controlled by Najib's own party underscores the conundrum. The messages sent out by these media organisations and the messages he himself is sending out are totally at odds with each other. Whom are we to listen to? Whom are we to trust?

Is there a game plan behind it all? Are we the rakyat mere pawns in the game? When the game is over, will we be played out?

I certainly hope not.

(writer : Kee Thuan Chye)

Au revoir 再见

Malaysian breakfast 道地早餐

Gaelle and Julie had to get up at 7:00 am this morning. It was time for them to get ready for breakfast and to airport for their 11:30 am flight home.

Last night they went to Karaoke lounge and then watched football (France was playing) at Mamak store until 5:00 am.

They had their favourite food for breakfast - Nasi Lemak, Roti bakar( toasted bread with butter and kaya), Mee Hoon soup, fried Kuoy Tiow and truly Malayisan drink - Teh bing (ice tea).

We bid farewell afer breakfast.

Au revoir... we will miss you girls. May God bless you a safe journey home and hope to meet again somedayssssssss!

TO KNOW MALAYSIA IS TO LOVE MALAYSIA IS TO EAT MALAYSIA!!!


You think Nasi Lemak is hot?!
UUmm...no problem!
辣吗?绝对没问题!

















Gaelle loved Roti Bakar...and Teh Bing !
烘面包和奶茶冰乃是我最好!

葛儿 (Gaelle) 和 茱莉 (Julie) 今早七点就得起床了。她们得准备用了早餐之后,就要到机场乘搭早上十一时半的班级回家了。

昨晚,她们去 卡拉OK唱歌, 然后到玛嘛档喝茶,看足球(法国队出赛),到了将近五点才到家。

今天的早餐,她们叫了最喜欢的食物 - 椰浆饭,烘面包(加椰和奶油),米粉汤,炒粿条,加上标准马来西亚饮料 - 奶茶冰。

早餐过后,依依不舍的和她们告别了。

Au revoir 再见,孩子们,希望有机会能够再见面。愿天主祝福你们一路顺风到家。

要认识马来西亚是要爱马来西亚是要吃马来西亚!!!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

French dinning 法国晚餐











Gaelle (left) and Julie (right) are leaving for home tomorrow. It has been almost a month since they left home for this holidays.

Being the last night, they prepared a French dinner for us, thoughtfully, with authentic ingredients brought from home, including white wine, cheese and crozets.

They spent a few hours in the kitchen preparing this special dinner (above pics).

And we enjoyed very much, especially me, I loved it!




Terrine
















Bon appetit
















主菜
main course
- Croziffette




两位法国朋友Gaelle (上左图)和 Julie (上右图)将在明天回家。她们这趟到亚洲的旅游,使到她们离家也将近一个月了。

今晚,她们特地为我们准备了一个法国式晚餐。她们也非常周到的,预先从家乡带来了原味的材料,包括白酒,芝士及主料 corzets。

她们俩在厨房花上了好几个小时,准备这个道地的法国晚餐(上图)

我们都非常喜欢,特别是我,更是合我口味。